November 23, 2011

As whole-house audio grows in popularity, more and more people are adding an in wall speaker system to rooms that don’t have room for stand-alone speakers. Â Are there things you need to consider when installing an in wall speaker? Â You bet there are!

First of all, a speaker isn’t like a piece of art (or at least, isn’t like most pieces of art) in that it moves. Â As you put music through it, it vibrates and oscillates. Â That means when you are choosing the right in wall speaker for your installation, it’s especially important to make sure the clamping mechanism is secure, and won’t result in bits of drywall dust eternally falling from the cut-out.

Side view of the VP100 In Wall Speaker

Also, remember that you are going to be cutting holes into the walls of your room in order to complete the installation. Â Check to see where the wires are currently running, and be sure to turn off any breakers for the room if you are at all in doubt when you start to cut.

Closely examine the speaker before you begin installation. Â In Axiom’s case, the speaker has hinged clamps that secure your speaker to the wall. Â However the Â speaker you choose is going to affix to the wall, you need to make sure that there is room on the inside of the wall without hitting any wires or pipes.

If you have unlimited home theater speaker placement options, figure on putting your speakers roughly equidistant from you and from each other. Â The ideal set up would be a sort of equal-sided triangle. Â If that isn’t possible, just get as close to that as you can within the constraints of your room.

If you are painting the speaker to match your wall, now is the time to do it. Â Use a primer to get the best results in color-matching. Â Some speakers (like Axiom’s) allow you to also paint the speaker grille. Â See our article on how best to do that here:

As with any home renovation project, the old adage “Measure twice and cut once” applies – in spades! Â Use a level to ensure your lines are even before you cut: all the straight lines involved in a pair of front left-and-right in wall speakers and an in wall center channel mean that any slightly off-center speaker will really catch your eye. Â And given that there is often a television between the speakers, trust me, your eyes will be drawn there!

Finally, be sure to test your speakers before you do any clamping or screwing into the wall. Â It’s much easier to ensure everything is working when the speaker is still in your hands, then it will be after you have it installed. Â Make sure you have aligned positive-to-positive and negative-to-negative so that your in wall speaker is in phase.

That’s it! Â A few simple considerations before you begin installing your new in wall speaker system.

2 comments on “Things To Consider When Installing An In Wall Speaker”

What extra considerations are needed when installing an in-wall speaker into an external wall with insulation and vapor barrier etc. Is it possible to do or should you just mount on-wall? Does the insulation cause any issues such as being a fire hazard, damage to the speaker or changing the performance of the speaker?